LEGAL TO GO RIGHT TO CHELTENHAM

Legal Right remained on course for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup today despite being forced to miss the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Jonjo O`Neill stressed there is 'nothing wrong' with his hard-to-train chaser, who 'is no lamer than he normally is.'

And he revealed that the high-class but fragile seven-year-old could now head straight for the Gold Cup without another race.

Legal Right entered the big-race picture when returning from a year`s absence to defy top-weight with an impressive victory in the Tote Silver Cup at Ascot last weekend.

O`Neill has since had to scrap plans for the gelding to make a quick reappearance on Boxing Day in the King George, for which he had been quoted as short as 7-1 by Ladbrokes.

But the trainer said this morning: 'Legal Right is OK today, there is nothing wrong with him and he is no lamer than he normally is.

'But the King George is coming a bit quick form him and he will not run. You can`t be confident with a horse like him but the Gold Cup is still the aim.'

Legal Right had been due to tackle the Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton last February before a setback ruled him out for the season but he may bypass the traditional Gold Cup trials this term.

'I haven`t looked at races for him and I will play it by ear,' O`Neill said.

'He won`t run for a month and he might not go anywhere before the Gold Cup - he doesn`t necessarily need a prep race.

'We got him back on track to win at Ascot and we will try to do it again.'

Legal Right, who has won six of his 10 career races over fences despite problems with lameness, is offered at 16-1 for the Gold Cup by William Hill.